skin peeling inside mouth

[mackthurmond]

I recently began noticing that every once in a while the skin on either side of my mouth turns white then starts to peel.  It is usually sometimes in a long thin  line on on both cheeks.  Sometimes it is just small spots and sometimes even on the lips.  I also appear to get cuts on my lips as if they were chapped.   The spots other than the cuts are never sensitive to the touch and usually last for a day or two. The just appear as white spots or lines and then disappear.  This all usually happens after working in the sun.  Any ideas on what this could be.

Thanks
mack

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
These cuts seem related to cheilitis. Avoid licking the lips as saliva evaporates quickly resulting in them being drier than before. Drink plenty of water and take multivitamin supplements and do not apply lipstick or other cosmetic products for some days. Use a humidifier to moisturize the air in your home and apply shea butter or Vaseline on your lips. If a week of compresses and emollients don't do the trick, you can add over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone ointment to your regimen.

If the condition still persists or there is deep cracking in the region of your mouth,then pls consult your doctor as it can be due to infection(Angular Cheilitis).Antibiotics are needed in such cases.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.

[mackthurmond]

Thanks

   I have also been getting a few cuts on the lips that appear like paper cuts and then leave after a day or two.  Do you think that this is related or something different.

Thank you
mack

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Firstly,It can be due to vit B deficiency.Take some vitamin B complex for some days and see if your symptoms improve.
Secondly,it can be due to atopic dermatitis or eczema("Atopic" refers to a group of diseases where there is often an inherited tendency to develop other allergic conditions, such as asthma and hay fever). Cheilitis(Inflammation of the skin on and around the lips)is often seen in atopic dermatitis.Diagnosed by bld test like RAST.Treatment is by topical steroids or oral therapy of corticosteroids in severe cases.Topical creams like tacrolimus ointment (Protopic) and pimecrolimus cream (Elidel) are also useful.Pls consult a dermatologist to get them prescribed.

Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.Kind regards.